Who is the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition?

Our mission is to reverse the trend of mass incarceration in Colorado. We are a coalition of nearly 7,000 individual members and over 100 faith and community organizations who have united to stop perpetual prison expansion in Colorado through policy and sentence reform.

Our chief areas of interest include drug policy reform, women in prison, racial injustice, the impact of incarceration on children and families, the problems associated with re-entry and stopping the practice of using private prisons in our state.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

(CBS)CHICAGO Hundreds of people united Tuesday night in a show of support for six African-American boys who are being held for beating a white teen. They are known as the "Jena 6."

Busloads of protestors from Chicago are already on their way to Louisiana to show support. As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, organizers say more than 1,000 people were in Daley Plaza for a rally to bring attention to what they call absolute injustice.

"I want to thank you for taking out time to do something for justice and do something for righteousness, here in Chicago," St. Sabina's Father Michael Pfleger told the crowd.

Pfleger said the people you see circling Daley Plaza Wednesday night stand together in unity with those who left for Jena, La., for Thursday's rally aimed at bringing attention to the "Jena 6."

Five of the six young black men were charged with attempted second degree murder. The sixth was charged as a juvenile. The six allegedly beat a white teen. The classmate allegedly taunted the six with racial slurs.

One of the students was found guilty of second degree aggravated battery. His conviction was overturned last week.

Before all this happened at Jena High School, a group of African-American students sat under a school tree which among students, was understood to be "for whites only." The next day three nooses were hanging from the tree.

"I think that it's a shame that in the 21st century we're still dealing with racism," said rally attendee Karen Armstrong.

"It isn't an isolated incident," said attendee Eric Landin. "It's indicative of a problem that's all across our world, across our nation and we really need to stand together, we really need more things like this."